Campaign for a Healthy and Responsible Tennessee - CHART - Vows to Continue Fighting to Raise the Tobacco Tax.Business Editors/News & Political Writers NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2002 Campaign for a Healthy and Responsible Tennessee (CHART) vows to continue the ongoing fight to raise the tobacco tax in Tennessee, despite yesterday's decision by the Senate Finance Committee not to pass a 30-cent increase in taxes on a pack of cigarettes. "It's disappointing some would prefer to raise the sales tax sales tax, levy on the sale of goods or services, generally calculated as a percentage of the selling price, and sometimes called a purchase tax. It is usually collected in the form of an extra charge by the retailer, who remits the tax to the government. on the necessities of life such as baby food, milk and bread and not capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. the opportunity to raise the tax on a product that kills," said Marianne Bouldin, CHART executive director. "Cigarettes kill, and there isn't a better way to protect our youth from the dangers of smoking than to raise the price, a proven deterrent to teenage smoking." The bill, sponsored by Sen. Rosalind Kurita Rosalind Kurita is Speaker pro tempore of the Tennessee State Senate, representing State Senate District 22 (Cheatham, Houston, and Montgomery Counties), centered on Clarksville. (D - Clarksville), will raise the cigarette tax to 43 cents, just below the national average of 44 cents per pack. Currently, Tennessee has the seventh-lowest tax rate in the nation. Tennessee's tobacco tax has remained at 13 cents since 1969. Studies show higher prices reduce teen smoking, saving lives and millions of dollars in health care costs to treat tobacco-related illnesses. A higher cigarette tax will also produce more that $160 million in new revenue for Tennessee. "CHART represents thousands of health advocates across the state, and our fight to raise the tobacco tax is not over," Bouldin said. "It's our hope that in the future, the members will do what is right and vote for legislation that will make a difference in the lives of Tennesseans." CHART is a cooperative effort of the American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, , American Heart Association American Heart Association (AHA), n.pr a national voluntary health agency that has the goal of increasing public and medical awareness of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, and thereby reducing the number of associated deaths and disabilities. , American Lung Association The American Lung Association (ALA) is a non-profit organization that "fights lung disease in all its forms, with special emphasis on asthma, tobacco control and environmental health". , and more than 30 other Tennessee health and community organizations. CHART's mission is to improve the quality of life for all Tennesseans by preventing and reducing disease, disability and death caused by tobacco use. |
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